Reusable forms for casting columns

ABSTRACT

A reusable form assembly for casting columns from concrete or other suitable material consisting of corner forming members and side-forming panel members disposed therebetween, all detachably bolted together to provide selected cross-section of column formed therein. The form members are in modules of suitable length which can be detachably bolted together in longitudinal relationship. A dovetail joint arrangement is provided between the corners and the cooperating side panels to effectively align the cooperating members and hold them in true alignment until the form is disassembled.

United States Patent Thornton [4 June 27, 1972 [54] REUSABLE FORMS FOR CASTING COLUMNS [72] lnventor: James Thornton, 413 Shoreline Drive,

Hampton, Va. 23366 [22] Filed: March 6, 1970 211 Appl. No.: 17,053

[52] 1.1.8. Cl ..249/48,25/1 18 RR, 249/194 [51] Int. Cl ..E04g 13/02 [58] Field otSearch ..25/l18RR, 131 CF; 249/48-51, 192, 194

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,310 2/1919 Hartman ..249/49 3,266,493 7/1966 Beckham ..249/194 X 2,873,503 2/1959 Davis ..249/194X 2,763 ,048 9/ 1956 Sullivan ..249/194 X 3,442,482 5/1969 Preblich.... ..249/l94 X 1,096,914 5/1914 Hoadley ..249/48 Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser Assistant Examiner-Ben D. Tobor Attorney-Mahoney, Miller & Stebens [5 7] ABSTRACT A reusable form assembly for casting columns from concrete or other suitable material consisting of corner forming members and side-forming panel members disposed therebetween, all detachably bolted together to provide selected cross-section of column formed therein. The form members are in modules of suitable length which can be detachably bolted together in longitudinal relationship. A dovetail joint arrangement is provided between the corners and the cooperating side panels to effectively align the cooperating members and hold them in true alignment until the form is disassembled.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJUHZY m2 3.672.626

, INVENTOR.

JAMES THORNTON E E 4- BY-MAHONEY a MILLER TORNEYJS PATEHTEDJUHN m2 3,672,626

SHEET 3 OF 3 &

INVENTOR. JAMES THORNTON BY-MAHONEY 8 MIL BY- ATTORNEYS REUSABLE FORMS FOR CASTING COLUMNS Various form assemblies have been provided in the past for casting columns. The present invention is an improvement over the prior art form members in that it provides separate comer members and side-forming panel members which can be readily bolted together for use and separated for reuse. Furthermore, they can be supplied in modules of suitable lengths which can be. readily bolted together in longitudinal relationship to form columns of any desired height and which can be easily disconnected for handling as the form is removed. Also, dovetail joints are provided between corner members and associated panel members to aid in true alignment of the form members and in holding them in alignment against the pressure exerted by the material cast in the form assembly. 4

The best mode contemplated in carrying out my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a form assembly embodying my invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken along line 3--3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a detail in horizontal section of a corner of the form and a separated edge portion of a face-forming side panel member.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a corner in association with adjacent edge portions of two separated faceJorming side panel members.

FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing a modified corner form.

With particular reference to the drawings, a form is illustrated in FIG. 1, which consists of several identical lengths or module units 10 which can be detachably bolted together in longitudinal alignment at joints 11. Any desired number of modules can be bolted togetherto provide a column of desired height. Each module 10 is shown in FIG. 3 as comprising four identical corner members 12 bolted at vertical joints 13 to four identical and cooperating side-forming panel members 14. When assembled as indicated, these comer members and side panel members cooperate to produce a column of desired cross-section when suitable material, such as concrete, is cast in the cavity provided by the form assembly. The contours of the inner surfaces of these members may be varied to obtain various surfaces on the column cast in the form. The panels 14 may be of various widths and may all be the same to obtain a square column or may be in pairs of different widths to obtain a rectangular column. The form members are preferably made of sheet metal of suitable gauge.

Each comer 12 is of elongated angular form and has the two main walls 15 disposed at right angles and joined by a curved portion 17. At each end thereof, the comer is provided with an outwardly extending connector flange 18 disposed in a plane at a right angle to the planes of the walls 15. The flange 18 is provided with bolt-receiving holes 19. The walls 15 carry outer longitudinal connector flanges 20 which are provided with the bolt-receiving holes 22. The flanges 20 are provided with outer laterally extending stop or aligning flanges 23 which are in planes parallel to the respective planes of the walls 15 and outwardly thereof. It will be noted that each of the flanges 20 is angled relative to the parallel members 15 and 23 which it connects. Each flange 20 is at an acute angle relative to its carrying wall 15. All of the flanges and walls of the corner member 12 extend the full length thereof and are integrally formed together.

Each of the panel members 14 is of tray-like form and comprises the flat panel or wall 25 having integral outwardly extending angular connector flanges 26. These respective flanges carry outer laterally extending stop flanges 27 which project laterally towards each other in a plane parallel to that of the panel 25 and spaced outwardly thereof. The flanges 26 and 27 extend the full length of the panel 25. The flanges 26 are provided with bolt-receiving openings 28 and it will be noted that these flanges are angularly disposed relative to the panel 25 and the flanges 26 which they connect. Each flange 26 is at an obtuse angle relative to its carrying wall 25. At each end of the panel 14 an integral transverse abutment flange 29 extends outwardly at a right angle from the panel 25.

To assemble the corner members 12 and the panel members 14, they are brought into cooperative relationship and secured together by the bolts 30. Each pair of comers 12 positioned opposite each other will receive a panel member 14 therebetween. It will be noted (FIG. 3) that the connector flanges 20 of opposite comers will diverge outwardly relatively and, in effect, will provide a longitudinally extending dovetail socket for receiving the panel. The opposed flanges 26 on the panel 25 of the cooperating :member 14 will also diverge outwardly and will be complemental to and engage the respective flanges 20. Outward movement of the panel member 15 in the dovetail socket provided by the opposed corner members 12 will be limited by engagement of the stop flanges 27 with the stop flanges 23 and at this time, the inner surface of the panel 25 will be flush with the inner surfaces of the associated corner walls 15 and the openings 22 and openings 28 of the respective corner and panel members will be in alignment to receive the bolts 30. Angular washers 31 may be provided on the bolts at the angular flanges 20 to properly engage therewith and obtain a proper clamping pressure.

If several modules 10 are connected longitudinally, the flanges 18 of the comer members and flanges 29 of the panel members of adjacent modules will be disposed in flat contact, the openings 19 of the respective flanges 18 will be aligned, and clamping bolts 35 will be inserted therein and tightened. The flanges 18 and 29 of the lowermost module may rest on a footer or foundation and be bolted thereto as indicated in FIG. 1.

As indicated, the comer form may have various transverse cross-sectional shapes. In the previously described corner form 12, the walls 15 are joined by a modified curved portion 17. In the modified form shown in FIG. 6, the walls 15a of the corner are joined at a sharp angle.

The dovetail socket arrangement between the panels and cooperating corner members will properly align these members to provide the proper cavity for casting the column. Also, alignment will thereby be maintained during the setting of the material cast in the cavity. The form members can be readily removed from the cast column and can be reassembled for forming another column. Any desired cross-sectional configuration and length of column may be obtained by proper design and selection of the form members.

I claim: a

1. A form assembly for use in casting articles such as columns comprising corner-forming angle members and side forming panel members disposed between the corner members and removably secured thereto:

each of said comer members being of elongated angular form having two main walls joined together at an angle joint and being relatively angularly disposed, an outer longitudinally extending connector flange on the outer extremity of each of said walls which angles outwardly relative to the wall at an acute angle, and a lateral inwardly extending stop flange on the outer extremity of each of said connector flanges;

each of said panel members being of elongated traylike form having a main panel, an outwardly extending angular connector flange at each of the opposed side edge extremities of the panel which extends longitudinally thereof and angles outwardly relative to the panel at an obtuse angle; said corner angle members being disposed in pairs of laterally spaced members with the connector flanges of the respective corner members being laterally spaced to provide an inwardly opening dovetail socket with its wider dimension outwardly for receiving a panel member, said panel member being located in said socket with its opposed connector flanges in panel member in the dovetail socket formed by the connector flanges of the adjacently disposed pair of comer angle membets.

2. A form assembly according to claim 1 in which each of said comer members and panel members is provided with an outwardly extending abutment flange at each end for use in connecting multiples of said members in longitudinal relationship, at least some of said flanges having bolt-receiving holes, adjacent abutment flanges being disposed in contact with said openings in alignment and receiving clamping bolts. 

1. A form assembly for use in casting articles such as columns comprising corner-forming angle members and side-forming panel members disposed between the corner members and removably secured thereto: each of said corner members being of elongated angular form having two main walls joined together at an angle joint and being relatively angularly disposed, an outer longitudinally extending connector flange on the outer extremity of each of said walls which angles outwardly relative to the wall at an acute angle, and a lateral inwardly extending stop flange on the outer extremity of each of said connector flanges; each of said panel members being of elongated tray-like form having a main panel, an outwardly extending angular connector flange at each of the opposed side edge extremities of the panel which extends longitudinally thereof and angles outwardly relative to the panel at an obtuse angle; said corner angle members being disposed in pairs of laterally spaced members with the connector flanges of the respective corner members being laterally spaced to provide an inwardly opening dovetail socket with its wider dimension outwardly for receiving a panel member, said panel member being located in said socket with its opposed connector flanges in contact with the respective connector flanges of said pair of corner members and being complemental thereto, and said connector flanges of said corner angle members and said panel members each having a plurality of longitudinally spaced, aligning openings formed therein, and means for removably connecting one of said panel members in said socket between a pair of said corner members comprising a respective clamping bolt transversely extending through each set of aligned openings in the connector flanges of an adjacently disposed pair of said corner angle members and a panel member interposed therebetween to rigidly clamp said panel member in the dovetail socket formed by the connector flanges of the adjacently disposed pair of corner angle members.
 2. A form assembly according to claim 1 in which each of said corner members and panel members is provided with an outwardly extending abutment flange at each end for use in connecting multiples of said members in longitudinal relationship, at least some of said flanges having bolt-receiving holes, adjacent abutment flanges being disposed in contact with said openings in alignment and receiving clamping bolts. 